International Activities
Third Planet is accredited by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as an NGO (non-governmental organization) observer, and was also accredited to participate in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002.
We provide education, training, and public awareness to developing countries in support of Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and Chapter 36 of the United Nations’ Agenda 21 on sustainable development.
We have established excellent working relationships at the national governmental level with developing countries, and with major international organizations working on these issues.
Our approach is to partner with key stakeholders to provide education, training, and public awareness and assist them in implementing climate change and renewable energy solutions.
1. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Accreditation
Based on our work in South Florida, in 2000 Third Planet received accreditation from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as an observer NGO. This accreditation permits Third Planet to participate at the highest level in all the United Nations meetings on climate change.
We have participated at meetings in London (The Royal Institute of International Affairs); The Hague, Netherlands (COP6 — Sixth Conference of the Parties); Washington, DC (Pew Center); Bonn, Germany (SB-16 — Sixteenth Meetings of the Subsidiary Bodies); and Copenhagen, Denmark (COP15 — Fifteenth Conference of the Parties).
December 7th-18th, 2009: UN-accredited delegate to the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Copenhagen, Denmark.
June 9th-14th, 2002: UN-accredited delegate to the 16th Meetings of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Bonn, Germany.
January 2001: Convened and facilitated a meeting in Ottawa, Canada between the Inuit indigenous people, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the National Library of Canada on Indicators of Climate Change Based on Traditional Knowledge.
November 13th-24th, 2000: UN-accredited delegate to the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), The Hague, Netherlands.
2. Sustainable Energy Development in the Bahamas
Due to the vast expanse of its 700 islands, in many ways this archipelagic nation faces far more daunting energy and climate adaptation challenges than most countries. The physical nature of the many distinct islands of the Bahamas makes it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to create a networked energy distribution infrastructure. This makes the nation virtually dependent on imported oil. And with many of its islands barely above sea level, the Bahamas is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise due to climate change.
June 21st, 2005: Invited meeting with Hungarian Deputy Director General for International Development Cooperation arranged through US Department of State concerning sustainable development in the Bahamas (Miami, FL).
In September 2005 Third Planet was invited to advise the Government of the Bahamas on strategies for deploying solar technologies, and on developing renewable energy policies. In the following 9 months, we made arrangements for key speakers, attended related conferences in Nassau and Washington, and met with many key stakeholders (government ministers and administrators, government commissions, the Inter-American Development Bank, Small Island Developing States (SIDS)-Tourism officials, and local business leaders including the hotel association) to discuss renewable energy needs and roadmaps for implementation.
November 15th, 2005: Energy Policy: New Wave Thinking to Mitigate the Economic Implications for Tourism in the Bahamas keynote presentation to a Bahamas Hotel Association and Bahamas Ministry of Tourism workshop on "Reducing Energy Costs with Greater Efficiency”.
3. Sustainable Exumas, Bahamas
Third Planet partnered with the Exuma Educational Resource Centre on Great Exuma Island in the Bahamas to raise funds, and assist with both technical and management expertise in developing an environmental education curriculum, through teacher training workshops and seminars.
This program started its first year of teaching in 2002 with an instructor from the world renowned Caribbean Marine Research Center in the Exuma Cays. In the 2003 and 2004 academic years the Exuma partner organization worked with the Bahamas National Trust to provide an improved and updated curriculum.
4. World Summit on Sustainable Development
In 2002 Third Planet received accreditation from the United Nations to participate in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).
We have participated at meetings in Johannesburg, South Africa (World Summit on Sustainable Development-WSSD); and New York (CSD11; and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development-WBCSD).
August 26th-September 4th, 2002: UN-accredited delegate to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Johannesburg, South Africa.
August 27th, 2002: An Update on The Global Energy Charter presentation for the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law's (CEL) Climate & Energy Specialist Group at the International Sustainable Energy Organization side event, the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Johannesburg, South Africa.
September 2002-September 2003: Republic of Panama—Darien Sustainable Development Program. Consultations and development work with the Ministry of Economy and Finance following the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa (2002) to create a UN Type 2 Partnership to facilitate rural renewable energy projects in lieu of fossil fueled power plants in Darien Province. Darien National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
March 2003: IUCN-CEL Climate & Energy Specialist Group Brainstorming Session with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) on World Energy Assessment Outreach, New York City.
April 30th -May 6th, 2003: UN-accredited delegate to the United Nations 11th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-11), New York City.
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